oliver surtees elmore



(No Model.)

J. O. SQELMORE. APPARATUS POR REPINING METALS BY ELEGTROLYSIS.

N0. 589,251.. Patented Aug. 31,1897.

me Nonms persas om woaumov. WASHINGTON, o. c.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT rrrcn.

JOHN OLIVER SURTEES ELMORE, OF KAPURTHALA, INDIA.

APPARATUS FOR REF'IN'ING METALS BY rELECTROLYSIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of `I.`earsy Patent No. 589,251, dated August 31, 1897. .Application inea August 17,1896. semaine. 603,013. cromada.)

and therefore requiring a very large stock of the metal to be kept on hand and extensive and costly plants and buildings.

This invention relates to apparatus of a cheap and simple character for the reiining of metals by electrolysis so operated as to effeet very rapidly the solution of the crude metal andthe deposit of the pure metal, and

so arranged as to give a large output in smallv compass and in short time. For this purpose I arrange the apparatus as I shall describe, referring to the accompanying drawing,which is a vertical longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of apparatus according` to my invention arranged for electrolytically refining copper. f

I provide a rectangular wooden frame A as a base, 011 which I place a sheet B of metal, such as is not acted onv by the electrolyte. lVhen copper is refined, the electrolyte is sulfate of copper, and therefore lead 4is the suitable metal for the sheet B, but when the sheets are of `considerable size, requiring strength, I use an iron plate covered all over with lead. of the crude copper which is to be refined, this plate being shorter than the'sheet` B. Also on the sheet B, I place a rectangular wooden frame D, the sides and ends of which are thicker than the plate C, and on the plate C, I place several pads E of india-rubber or other elastic insulating material. On these and on the frame D, I place another sheet B', carrying another plate C of crude copper, and I repeat this, piling a number of sheets B', frames D, plates C, and pads E above one another, covering the whole with a sheet B2, over which I place a top frame A', and I clamp the whole pile rmly by bolts Gr, passing through holes in battens Q, arranged below the frame A, and corresponding battens l. inlet of a rotary or other pump M, the dis- On the sheet B, I place a plate O` lowest sheet B has a hole for a pipe I. Each of the other? plates B' has a hole or set of holes t b near one end, and when the sheets are placed in"position the holesA b are arranged alter 1 nately to the right 'and to the left.

` The pipe I has its mouth over a rocking trough J, which has a cross-partition j and is mounted on'a horizontal axis within a tank From the tank K a pipe L leads to the ycharge of which Yis connected to the pipe II. The lowest plate B is connected to the -1- terminal and t-he uppermost plate B2 is connected'to the terminal of a dynamo-machine or other source of electricity, the tank is supplied with electrolyte liquid, and the pump is connected by suitable gear to any convenient motor.

The pump being worked and the electrical current being switched on the apparatus operates as follows: While a large current of electrolyte is caused to flow in a zigzag course through the alternated openings Z2, thus passing along between each plate C and sheet B', the 'copper is rapidly dissolved from each plate C and deposited on the plate B above it. The electrolyte after passing the lowest plate O is discharged bythe pipe I into the one side of the trough J, on one side of the partition j. W hen that side of the trough has received a certain weight of liquid, it overbalances the other side and descends, deliving its contents into the tank K, the other side of .I then receiving liquid .until it descends Yin its turn. The trough J being of woodor other uonconducting material, by thus discharging from each side of it while that side is not receiving supply there is no electrical communication from the liquid discharged to that which is drawn from the tank for supply. It is of advantage to separate irnpurities suspended in the electrolyte, This may be done by withdrawing Afrom time to time a portion, filtering and returning the filtered liquid, or a portion may be made to fioW continually through a filter from either of the pipes II or I, to which the filter may be connected as a by-pass for part of the liquid flowing through the pipes. In the drawing I have illustrated the latter arrangement,

IOO

wherein the referencefnuineral n indicates the filter connected by by-pass pipes t' t' with the discharge-pipe I. Iy these means a portion of the electrolyte is caused to flow through the filter and be thus deprived of impurities. The by-pass pipes fi t' are provided with Valves fz" t", by means of which the fioW of the elec trolyte liquid through the filter maybe regulated, or the iilter may be cut out altogether, or by means of a valve I in the pipe I the entire volume of the electrolyte may be caused to flow through the lilter in its passage to the tank.

Although I have described the frames A, A', and D as being of wood, they might obviously be of other1 noneondueting material, wood be ing generally preferable on account of cheapness.

I'Iaving thus described the nature of this invention and the best means l know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim;

l. The combination of a series of non-conducting frames and sheets of metal carrying plates of the crude material to be refined, said frames and sheets being piled over one another and clamped together, and said sheets having holes arranged in their alternate ends for the passage of an electrolyte liquid in a zigzag course between each plate and the sheet above it, and an electric circuit connected at its terminals to the lowest and uppermost sheet respectively, substantially as described and for the purpose specied.

2. The combination of a series of non-conducting frames and sheetsV of metal carrying plates of the crude material to be rened,

sheets respectively,substantially as describedv andufor the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 19th day of June, A. D. 1806.

JOHN Olill'lllt SURTEES ELMORE.

lVitnesses:

I. FAIRWEATHER, KANMAR BALBEERsINGI-I. 

